Category Archives: reading

Nov 28 2011

Honey Creek Books Blog Launch

Bride and groom dancing

Image by PhotoStock

It’s here.

The Honey Creek Books blog launch.

It’s happening right now, a new beginning of a new line of books, set in Honey Creek, Ohio.

Honey Creek Books is the imprint for my upcoming book Shades of the Future.  I hope you’ll stop by this week to see what’s happening. This week each of the four authors will introduce themselves, one each day. We’ll be giving away books and goodies to readers who comment on posts, join or subscribe to the blog, or follow @HoneyCreekBooks on Twitter. You can win a signed copy in print or digital format of my anthology, Rapunzel’s Daughters. The other authors have wonderful freebies, too.

Don’t miss out on the fun! Honey Creek is a happening place. We’re building a community now, and I hope you’ll become a part of it. Each week the other three authors and I will tell you all about Honey Creek, the romance, and the stories. Each Friday I’ll update you on all the latest gossip, because what’s a small town without gossip?

When I began querying small publishers I found Turquoise Morning Press, (TMP), the publisher that handles the imprint for Honey Creek Books. It’s small but growing. They’ve been nothing but supportive. They have an author network of friendly, talented writers and the publishing team works double time to help produce and promote our books.

TMP hosts the blog, and they’re creating a book trailer to go along with the first Honey Creek Books. I’ll let you know when it’s available to view. I feel honored to be part of this new line of books and such an exciting publishing adventure. I’ll tell you all about my experiences as I go through the publishing process with them.

Here are the important linkylinks:

Honey Creek Books Blog

Twitter with @HoneyCreekBooks

Suzanne Lilly author page

Aug 1 2008

Reading: How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

How Nancy Drew Saved My Life

By Laura Baratz-Logsted

I picked up this book last week, thinking it would be a fun and quick summer read. I enjoy reading funny women’s fiction when I need a break from heavier material. This story depicted the heroine as brainless and immature, neither of which I find funny or entertaining. Sorry, Laura.

The heroine is getting over a broken heart and loss of a job. She chooses to read 56 Nancy Drew novels as her recovery method. As hard as I tried to suspend my disbelief for the sake of the story, I never could buy into the premise that a grown woman would do that, no matter how heartbroken and devastated she was.

The book has the standard “nanny falls in love with the male employer” plot, only the heroine does it, not once, but twice. Sheesh.

Throughout the book she keeps asking herself, “What would Nancy Drew do?” Well, dear, she certainly wouldn’t fall in love with her married employer. Make that plural.

The story ends in an unsatisfying way, that makes the heroine appear addle-brained and irresponsible. That’s exactly the reputation that chick lit has been trying to break out of for years.

There is one saving grace when you read a book like this one. You can assuredly put it down and say, “I can write better than that.”

Jul 16 2008

Reading: Three Cups of Tea

I put off reading this book during the school year, thinking I was too busy. Now that I read it this summer, I wish I hadn’t waited so long.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin is the type of book that makes you appreciate how much of a difference one person can make in the world. While this book is nonfiction, it is a gripping account that is hard to put down.

Greg Mortenson was a mountain climber who, on an attempt at K2 in 1993, became lost and wandered into a village in Pakistan. While enjoying the hospitality of the village chief, he found out that there was no school in the village. Boys were sent away to school while girls were offered no education.

He made a decision to change that. He returned to the United States, determined to raise enough money to build a school. Over the years, with the help of generous benefactors and friends, he has managed to build over 50 schools and empower the people whose lives he has touched.

This inspiring story is a must read. You can find out more about the book and the organization Greg founded, as well as what you can do to help, by clicking here.